Shop-indicator.



. PATENTED'SEPT. 29, 1903'.- G. F. WILLOWER.

SHOP INDIGATOR. V

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 113.20.1903.

'PATENTED SEPT. 29, 1903.

G. F. WILLOWBR. SHOP INDICATOR. APPLIO ATION FILED FEB. 20. 1903.

2 SHnETssHEET 2.

I0 IODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented September 29, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

GUY F. WILLOWER, OF LIMA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO G. E. JONES AND H. L. SLUSSER, OF COLUMBUS GROVE,

OHIO.

SHOP-lNDlCATOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 740,380, dated September 29, 1903.

Application filed February 20,1903. $eria1 No. 144,308. (No model.)

To all whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, GUY F. WIL OWEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the countyof Allen and State of Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improve-l mentsin Shop-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention is to devise a novel form of mechanism for indicating the order in which customers are to be served, ihereby obviating disputes and I I the many objectionable features where a systom for designating the turn of a customeris lacking.

The invention is specially designed for barber-shops and other places where customers must wait their turn. Incidental to the invention the same is used for advertising purposes by forming an essential part of a frame containing advertising matter displayed in the form of cards, panels, or other prominentand attractiveway. Theindicator embodies an alarm which is sounded to attract attention, thereby causing the advertising matter,as wellas the number next in order, to come under observation of the Waiting customers.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereofaud also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for efiecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of theinvention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a rear view of the indicator, showing the operating parts and the electric circuits. Fig; 2 is a detail view in elevation of the indicating-disks. Fig. 3 is a front view of the indicator. Fig. 4 is a transverse section about on the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the diagram of circuits.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

In accordance with this invention the shop or place having theindicatingsystem installed therein is provided with a series of cards consecutively numbered and containing matter, such as the title of the shop or proprietor and directions to warn the customer to observe the indicating mechanism, so that he may be informed when his turn for service arrives. Each customer upon entering the shop or place receives a card of this character. The indicator embodies disks or plates bearing numerals corresponding with the numbers upon the cards herein referred to and actuating mechanism for moving the disks to bring the numbers in position for observation in successive order. An alarm mechanism is an essential part of the mechanism to attract attention thereto.

In the form of indicator illustrated twoindicating-disks 1 and 2 are provided, being of the denominate order of units and tens, the units-disk 1 being successively operated after each customer or person has been served and the tens-disk 2 being moved a distance to bring the next number in position at each complete revolution of the units-disk. The adjacent edge portions of the indicating-disks overlap, so as to bring the numbers exposed for observation .in juxtaposition for ready reading. The peripheral portion of the tensdisk 2 is notched, as shown at 3, so as not to cover the coordinate numeral-of the unitsdisk, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 2, thereby providing for close relation of the complementary numerals of a number of the tens order. The units-disk l is secured to an arbor 4 and is provided with means cooperating with the tens-disk for moving the latter a distance to bring the next number in position at each complete revolution of the unitsdisk. Upon the arbor 4. are secured two ratchet-wheels 5 and 6 of difierent diameters, a detent 7 cobperating with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 5 to prevent surreptitious forward turning of the units-disk and a detent 8 cooperating with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 6 to prevent backward rotation of the-arbor i and attached parts when the operating-pawl 9 is moving backward to a normal position for operating the indicator at the next movement.

The operating-pawl 9 is provided with a catch 10 to engage with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 6 and is pivoted to a lever 11, fulcrumed at 12 and provided with an armature 13 for cooperation with an electromagnet 14 of any structural type and secured to a support 15, applied to the indicator-frame. Upon energizing the electromagnet 14 by passing an electric current therethrough the armature 13 is attracted and the lever 11 oscillated to operate the pawl 9 and the unitsindicating I disk. A spring 16 serves to return the lever 11 to a normal position.

The detent 7 is controlled by means of an electromagnet 16% included in the same circuit with electromagnet 14. When the detent 7 is in contact with a tooth of ratchetwheel 5, the units-disk 1 cannot be turned forward by the application of force thereto from the outside. Hence the indicator cannot be tampered with. When the electric circuit, including the electromagnets 16 and 14, is closed, the detent 7 is attracted and releases the units-disk, thereby permitting movement thereof through the instrumentality of parts 14, 11, and 10. A light coil-spring 17 returns the detent to a normal position after being operated and holds it in contact with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 5.

The alarm consists of an electric bell 18 of ordinary construction and conveniently disposed, said bell being included in an inde pendent electric circuit, which is closed by the indicating mechanism when actuated. The alarm-circuit includes two electric contacts 19 and 20, the former being carried by the lever 11 and the latter being secured to the frame of the indicator and consisting of a spring, so as to yield and admit of the lever 11 moving to the limit of its throw. When the circuit is closed through the electromagnet 14 and the lever 11 moves, the circuit through the bell 18' is established and an alarm sounded, so as to attract attention to the indicator and the adjacent advertising or other matter to be displayed. The circuit is closed by means of an electric push-button 21 of any approved type and conveniently disposed, so as to be pressed upon by the proprietor or other person charged with operating the indicator as each customer or person is served.

A spring 22 of the retractile type cooperates with lever 11 to return it to a normal position when released from the influence of electromagnet 14. A stop 23 limits the movement of lever 11 when drawn upon by spring 22, said stop consisting of a bar attached at one end to a stud of the frame and having its opposite end bent to be engaged by lever 11. Pawl 9 is pivoted at one end to lever 11 and is provided at its opposite end with a spring 24, which passes beneath a stop 25, so as to insure engagement of catch 10 with the teeth of ratchet-wheel 6. The means for insuring proper working of the indicating-disks consist of disks 26 and 27, secured to the arbors of the respective disks 1 and 2, so as to rotate therewith. The disk 26 is provided with ten notches in its peripheral edge, and disk 27 is provided with a single tooth 28 to engage with a notch of disk 26 at each complete revolution of the units-disk, so as to move the tens-disk a distance corresponding to the space between the numerals.

Thedirection of circuitsis as follows: starting from battery 29 through wire 30 to electromagnet 14, through wire 31 to electromagnet 16 through wire 32 to push-button 21, and through wire 33 back to battery 29. When the circuit just described is closed, magnets 14 and 16 are energized and lever 11 and detent7attracted. When the lever 11 is moved, the alarm-circuit is automatically closed and isas follows: starting from battery 34through wire 35 to bell 18, thence by wire 36 to spring 22, through contacts 19 and 20 to wire 37, thence through wires 30 and 38 back to battery 34.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of indicating mechanism, ratchet-Wheels cooperating with the indicating mechanism and oppositely disposed, an operating-pawl and detent cooperating with one of the ratchet-wheels, a second detent cooperating with the other ratchet-wheel to prevent surreptitious forward movement of the indicating mechanism, independent electromagnets included in the same circuit, the one for actuating the operating-pawl, the other for releasing the indicating mechanism prior to forward movement thereof by the action of the operating-pawl, and means for closing said electric circ'uit,substantially as set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of indicating mechanism, ratchet-wheels cooperating with saidindicating mechanism and oppositely disposed to cause the teeth to face in reverse directions, an operating-pawl and detent cooperating with one of the ratchet-wheels to efiect forward movement of the indicating mechanism, a detent cooperating with the other ratchetwheel to prevent surreptitious forward movement of the indicating mechanism, electromagnets included in the same circuit, one adapted to actuate-the operating-pawl, the other arranged to effect a release of the indicating mechanism to permit actuation there of by means of said operating-pawl, and a signal included in an independent circuit arranged to be closed by said operating-pawl upon actuation thereof when the main circuit is closed, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUY F. WILLOWER.

Witnesses:

R. L. ARMSTRONG, M. O. SHAPPELL.

ICC

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